Here are just a few shocking statistics about chemical fertilizers, herbicides & pesticides. According to the U.S. National Wildlife Federation, the average suburban lawn receives 10 times as much chemical pesticide per acre, per year, as farmland. Also, where pesticides are used, 60-90% of earthworms are killed, earthworms are extremely important for maintaining soil health. They act as nature’s soil aerators.

Common lawn chemicals used in controlling weeds, insects, etc., are toxic. Of 30 commonly used lawn chemicals, most are linked with cancer, birth defects, reproductive disruptions, liver or kidney damage, neuro-toxicity, and disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system. Of those same lawn chemicals, most are detected in groundwater and are toxic to fish, bees, and birds. The list continues to grow on research confirming studies showing that common hazardous lawn chemicals are drifting into our homes where they contaminate indoor air and surfaces, exposing children at levels ten times higher than pre-application levels.

Are Chemical Fertilizers / Herbicides and Pesticides Really That Harmful?

YES, YES, YES! The numbers of scientific studies that show a direct link between the regular use of these chemicals on your property and serious diseases is huge, with more being reported every day. Most recently, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that a new law must prioritize children’s health by protecting children and their families from these dangerous chemicals. With this recommendation, AAP has joined the nation’s leading health organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and the American Nurses Association, in calling for an overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which is widely understood to be ineffective at protecting the publicfrom exposure to toxins.

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides on lawns weaken the grass and destroy the natural balance of microbes and beneficial insect predators, thus promoting weed and insect proliferation.

A Better Alternative To Chemical Fertilizers & Pesticides

The healthy, organic way of treating your lawn is not the same as the chemical fertilizers / herbicide way. You have weed problems because the soil is deficient. Healthy soils naturally resist weeds. The corn gluten meal/organic fertilizer program builds up the soil so the grass grows thick and crowds out the weeds as well as preventing the weeds seeds from sprouting in the first place. But this process happens over time, (several years) with consistency and patience.

Finally, the perspective MUST change. It’s time to stop allowing our children and loved pets to be subjected to this huge chemical experiment. There are safe ways to get the beautiful lawn you desire without using pesticides & chemical fertilizers on your yard.

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